so super storm sandy in the midwest and impact on agriculture, bodleian flyers, the earthquake, tsunami and it clear reactor accident in japan last year, haiti earthquake. the list is long and worrying. in 2011, we had more disasters in the united states costing over a billion dollars. in fact, even more disasters, but not quite as many in 2012. the drought is super storm are hugely expensive. so disasters are happening with greater frequency, greater severity and absolutely with much, much greater cost. so we are here over the next three days to work across traditional boundaries to connect scientists as part tichenor's, with policymakers from the international to the local level, with conservation organization, with corporations and it is our belief that only, i want to emphasize only by working together can we solve these immense challenges that face us. and the costs are not simply financial, but as we tragically know, and many, many lives are lost in these disasters. and so, if we can come up with just one useful idea in the next three days, the benefit, even if it's only one life